Trey Alexander’s first college buzzer-beater lifts No. 10 Creighton over Villanova

PHILIDELPHIA — Creighton guard Trey Alexander drifted to the corner and left his feet to gather a pass from Steven Ashworth. As the final few seconds dwindled in Saturday’s matchup with Villanova, Alexander jab-stepped to his left before putting his head down and heading right.

He maneuvered through the blanketing defense of Wildcats guard TJ Bamba and to the right side of the lane. Alexander’s drive around a screen and to the basket was cut off, so he planted his left foot, faded away and nailed one of his signature 15-foot jumpers with 0.2 seconds left.

The junior guard’s first collegiate game-winner helped the No. 10 Jays avoid completely blowing a 24-point lead and escape the Wells Fargo Center, 69-67. They clinched the No. 2 seed in the Big East Tournament and closed the regular season winning seven of eight.

“I came down and knew (Greg McDermott) was gonna trust me with the ball in my hands,” Alexander said on the postgame radio show. “I just went for a shot that I’ve shot a million times.”

People are also reading…

That mid-range make wiped away a potential game-defining mistake he made right before then.

CU (23-8, 14-6 Big East) struggled to defend Villanova’s five-out offense through all of the second half. An action forced Alexander, at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, to switch onto Eric Dixon, the Wildcats’ 6-foot-8 forward who’s one of the better sharpshooting big men in the country.

Alexander made too much contact after Dixon left his feet from behind the arc to send him to the line. Dixon made all three to tie the game at 67-all with 23.6 seconds remaining.

“I had to make up for it,” said Alexander, who had 17 points and six rebounds. “It was a dumb decision. I was trying to get him off the line. He took one dribble to the side, and I fouled him.”

Alexander wouldn’t have been blameless if CU dropped that one, but that sequence alone isn’t what nearly cost the Jays, who were scorching out of the gate before falling into a cold spell.

Creighton was up by 24 after the first 10 minutes. With Nova (17-14, 10-10) desperately needing a win for its NCAA Tournament resume, the Jays used Alexander and Baylor Scheierman to silence another one of the league’s countless hostile environments.

They opened 11 of 16 from the field, including 8 of 12 from beyond the arc. There was little CU couldn’t do on both ends of the floor, keeping the Wildcats in check as effectively as they kept draining open looks.

The Jays missed nine consecutive 3-pointers, Dixon and Justin Moore got going for Villanova, and the Cats cut Creighton’s lead to 40-29 by the break.

“They definitely picked up the pressure. That’s a team that’s very, very skilled and has a lot of talented players,” Ashworth told the postgame radio show. “They had a lot of really good action that was a little bit slower. I think it slowed the pace down for us and didn’t allow us to get out in transition as much.”

That plan, coupled with a few more scoreless stretches for CU, allowed Villanova to rattle off a 12-0 run and get within a bucket with less than a minute remaining.

“Thank God we started so good,” McDermott, the Jays’ 14th-year coach, told the postgame radio show. “We knew Villanova was not gonna quit, especially in this building.”

Then Dixon clutched up at the free-throw line. Then Alexander called game.

“We had a big-time player make a big-time play when it mattered,” McDermott said.

Both Alexander and McDermott talked up Creighton’s connectivity.

This group, Alexander said, is the closest bunch he’s ever been a part of. It’s the thing that helped the Jays bounce back from starting league play with back-to-back losses to win 14 of 18 and finish second in the league

With the regular season in the books — the exclamation point provided by Alexander’s late-game mistake turned heroics — CU will head to Madison Square Garden looking to win the Big East Tournament for the first time since joining the conference a decade ago.

And these Jays have as good a chance as any that have come before them.

“We’ve positioned ourselves well for New York and the NCAA Tournament,” McDermott said. “It’s gonna be sad when it ends. I don’t want it to end for a while.”

Photos: Creighton men’s basketball hosts Marquette in final home game of season

Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dunks the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Francisco Farabello (5) celebrates afterr a late 3-pointer in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Steven Ashworth (1) is enveloped by Marquette’s Ben Gold (12) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) defends against Marquette’s David Joplin (23) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman (55) shoots the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) celebrates a play in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dives for the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Francisco Farabello (5), Baylor Scheierman (55) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) are honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) slams into Marquette’s Ben Gold (12) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Steven Ashworth (1) calls for a timeout after fighting for the ball on the floor in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) gets caught between Marquette’s Zaide Lowery (10) and Marquette’s David Joplin (23) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Marquette’s David Joplin (23) walks off the court for a timeout in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Steven Ashworth (1) fights for the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Jasen Green (0) controls the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott talks with an official during the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) keeps the ball from Marquette’s Stevie Mitchell (4) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott calls out to his team in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Marquette’s Tre Norman (5) rushes off the court following a timeout in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman (55) drives past Marquette’s Tre Norman (5) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton cheerleaders perform during a break in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) reacts after missing a pass in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott talks with Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman (55) celebrates a play in the final few minutes of the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) slams into Marquette’s David Joplin (23) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Marquette head coach Shaka Smart watches his team in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Jasen Green (0) controls the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) shoots the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Francisco Farabello (5) goes for two points with Marquette’s Zaide Lowery (10) on him in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman (55) hugs Creighton head coach Greg McDermott after being taken out in the final minute of the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Francisco Farabello (5) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman (55) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Francisco Farabello (5) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman (55) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD ‘); var s = document.createElement(‘script’); s.setAttribute(‘src’, ‘https://assets.revcontent.com/master/delivery.js’); document.body.appendChild(s); window.removeEventListener(‘scroll’, throttledRevContent); __tnt.log(‘Load Rev Content’); } } }, 100); window.addEventListener(‘scroll’, throttledRevContent);

Get local news delivered to your inbox!